Byron Connor Died In Chicago Electrocution Accident

Unsafe Premises - April 27, 2024

Contractor Byron Connor Died In Chicago Electrocution Accident At Central Park Pumping Station In Homan Square

Byron Connor Died In Chicago Electrocution Accident

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (April 27, 2024) – A 63-year-old contractor identified as Byron Connor has tragically died after being electrocuted at the Central Park Pumping Station.

Cook County officials are saying that the accident took place around 9:00 a.m. on Thursday. Byron Connor was working near high-voltage transformers at the water pumping station.

At some point during his work, he was electrocuted and seriously injured in the process. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the Central Park Pumping Station in order to help the victim.

Despite life-saving measures, Byron Connor was pronounced dead at the scene. The U.S. Department of Labor and the Chicago police are conducting an investigation.

Liability For Cook County Electrocution Accidents

OSHA has listed electrocution as one of the ‘fatal four’ causes of workplace injury and death. According to Safety and Health Magazine, “In 2020, 126 U.S. workers suffered fatal electrical injuries, a 24% decrease from the previous year, but nonfatal electrical injuries involving days away from work increased 17% over that same span.” Nearly half of all electrocutions occur in construction. Companies should take a number of measures in order to prevent electrocution accidents.

  • Equipment Maintenance: Companies should regularly maintain all electrical equipment and ensure that it is in good working condition.
  • Warning Signs: Companies should clearly mark electrical hazards and equipment with warning signs.
  • Personal Protective Equipment: Companies should provide all of their workers with personal protective equipment. This may include giving them insulated gloves and tools.
  • Training: Workers should be trained on electrical safety practices. This should include knowing how to recognize electrical hazards.
  • Lockout/Tagout Procedures: Companies should implement lockout/tagout procedures to ensure that the equipment they are working on is de-energized.

Depending on the facts of any case, there could be numerous liable parties for any electrocution. Generally speaking, Illinois law prevents employers from being held directly liable for accidents that injure their workers. However, an injured worker or their family may have the ability to seek accountability through a third-party liability claim. A third-party liability claim may be possible if an entity separate from a worker’s employer contributed to an accident.

There could be numerous sources of third-party liability for any electrocution accident. This could include the property owner where an accident took place. Pursuant to Illinois Civil Code (740 ILCS 130/1), property owners must maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition. When a property owner has actual or constructive notice of a dangerous condition with their property, they must take action to remedy the danger. There are numerous ways that a property owner may have inadvertently created an electrical hazard.

  • A property owner may have failed to de-energize an area where guests are likely to frequent.
  • A property owner may have failed to warn about an area with electrical hazards.
  • A property owner could have failed to install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GCIFs) in outdoor areas.

The company that manufactured a piece of equipment could also potentially be liable for an accident. Companies have a legal obligation to create products that are reasonably safe. An electrical equipment company could be held strictly liable for design defects associated with their product. Sadly, though, property owners and equipment manufacturers will often do everything in their power to deny liability for any accident. This is why it is so important that all workplace accidents are thoroughly investigated by an independent organization.

Investigating Chicago Electrocution Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Byron Connor. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to OSHA. Illinois law requires power circuits and electrical equipment to be de-energized before any work is done on them. There needs to be a thorough investigation into whether or not safety guidelines are being properly followed.

Do you need more information about a Cook County workplace accident? Our team of worker’s rights advocates is here to answer any questions that you may have. We are committed to helping workers understand their rights. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any particular incident, we may be able to help you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.